Miami football player from Evanston accused of rape

CORAL GABLES, Fla.—University of Miami defensive tackle Jeffrey Brown, a native of Evanston, was suspended indefinitely from the team after he was arrested and charged with sexual battery Wednesday.

Brown, 19, turned himself in to Coral Gables police at 3:39 p.m. and was taken to Miami-Dade County Jail, where he was being held on $10,000 bond.

According to an arrest affidavit, Brown allegedly raped a fellow student, whom he knew, in a UM dorm room around 3:40 a.m. April 30.

Brown's attorneys, of the Chicago-based law firm Durkin & Roberts, issued a statement Wednesday night contending that Brown "did not engage in any criminal conduct whatsoever on the evening in question, nor did he violate any rules of the University of Miami or its football program."

Brown's attorneys noted his family "stands by him wholeheartedly, and looks forward to Jeffrey having his day in court so that he can clear his good name."

The woman told police that she returned to her dorm ill from drinking too much and passed out after throwing up in Brown's bathroom.

Brown helped her to her room, placed a trash can by her bed and left. He then returned "under pretense that he was concerned for her well-being."

According to the affidavit, the woman was sleeping when Brown started removing her clothes. She awoke with him on top of her and repeatedly told him to stop as he allegedly raped her. The woman told police she was helpless to resist Brown because of his size -- he's listed as 6-3, 295 pounds on UM's roster -- and her state of intoxication.

According to police, Brown was read his Miranda rights and during an interview initially denied having sex with the woman. He later admitted to having sex with her.

UM released this statement Wednesday: "The University of Miami has become aware of the serious charges made against a student athlete, and he has been suspended indefinitely from the football program."

The university said it would have no further comment.

Brown, rated a three-star recruit by ESPN.com in high school and the nation's 75th-best defensive tackle by Scout.com, redshirted as a freshman last season.

He was not expected to be a contributor this fall.

Brown is the second UM football player arrested in the past two months. Linebacker Ramon Buchanan was suspended indefinitely -- and later reinstated -- after being arrested March 18. He had been charged with two felonies -- resisting arrest and battery after allegedly spitting on and attempting to head-butt an officer --and three misdemeanors. He reached an agreement with the state attorney's office in which all charges will be dropped if he completes a program for first-time offenders.